Tube-mill cement-feeder.



A. E. SPARROW. TUBE MILL CEMENT FEEDER.

AYPLIOATION FILED JUNEQ, 1913.

Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

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A. E. SPARROW.

TUBE MILL CEMENT FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1913.

Patented J an 27, 1914.

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ARTHUR ERNEST SPARROW, OF CHICAGO, ILLINoIs. TUBE-MILL CEMENT-FEEDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

Application filed June 9, 1913. Serial no. 772,565.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR E. SPARROW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tube-Mill Cement- Feeders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tube mill cement feeders, and has particular reference to certain new and useful improvements in apparatus of this character shown in Patents Nos. 938,176 and 967,075, granted to me under date of Oct. 26, 1909 and Aug. 9, 1910 respectively.

An important object of this invention is to improve the construction of the apparatus as a whole, whereby the same will operate in a more satisfactory manner.

A further object of the invention is to improve the connecting means between the conveyer cylinder and the reduced end or neck of the tube mill, whereby the parts will operate with a reduced amount of friction.

A further object of my invention is to provide means to be arranged within the hopper, for regulating the amount of ma terial which is intermittently discharged from the hopper,-such means being so constructed that the same will automatically yield to the passa e of a stone or other large object without su bjecting the parts thereof to undue strains which might cause the same to be broken.

Other objects and advantages of this in veution will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view through the complete apparatus, Fig. 2 is an end view of the hopper construction, Fig. 3 is a central vertical transverse sectional view through the hopper construction, and, Fig. 4 is a plan view of the hopper and the leveling casing.

In the drawings wherein for the sake of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention the numeral 4 designates a cement grinding tube or shell, provided with an annular gear 5, receivin its rotation from a pinion 6 or the like. onnected with the intake and of the grinding tube or shell 4 is a reduced tubular neck or sleeve 7 which rotates with the same.

Extending into the tubular neck 7 is an intermediate driving tubular casing 8, provided at its forward end with a flange 9, having an annular recess 10, for receiving the free end of the neck 7 The flange 9 is keyed, to the neck 7, as shown at 11.

isposed adjacent the forward end of the neck 7 is a horizontal stationary conveyer cylinder 12 having an extension conveyer cylinder 13 disposed adjacent the rear end thereof and in end to end relation thereto. This extension conveyer cylinder passes into the intermediate driving tubular casing 8, as shown. At its outer end the extension conveyer cylinder 13 is provided with a suitable number of T-shaped slots 14, for receiving pins or bolts 15, attached to a spanning ring 16, which covers the adjacent ends of the cylinders 12 and 13, as shown. It is obvious that the pins or bolts 15 may be first passed into the T-shaped slots 14, subsequently to which the extension cylinder 13 may be slig tly rotated, to bring the pins or bolts into corresponding ends of the slots 14, whereby the cylinders 12 and 13 will be properly connected. The spanning ring 16 is keyed to the conveyer cylinder 12, as shown at 17. The spanning ring 16 is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 18, having openings formed therethrough for receiving the outer smooth end of pins 19, the inner ends of which have screw-threaded engagement with a holding ring 20. Springs 21 surround the pins 19, and serve to move the holding ring 20 rearwardly, that is toward the grinding tube or shell ,4. The holding ring 20 is provided with an annular recess or groove 22, for receiving a packing ring 23, preferably formed of metal, the same being connected for rotation with the annular flange 9, by means of pins 24. The holding ring 20 is provided adjacent the packing ring 23 with an annular oil distributing groove or port 25, the oil or the like being fed thereto from a cup 26. The conveyer cylinder 12 may be moved longitudinally, when assembling the different parts of the apparatus, and the same is norinall movement y lock 27 it being con'nected therewith by bolts (not shown.) The forward end of the conveyer cylinder 12 is supported and held against a vided with spiral blades 34,

normally closed by a head 28, provided with a sleeve or bearing 29, for receiving a rotatable spiral conveyer shaft 30, the same being provided with a spiral conveyer 31, as shown. The rear end of the rotatable shaft '30 passes through the hub of a spider bearing 32, which is rigidly attached to the inner end of the intermediate driving tubular casing 9. The shaft is keyed to the hub 'of the spider bearing 32 for rotation therewith, as shown at 33. Between the armsof the spider bearing 32, the intermediate driving tubular casing 8 is pro:

attached thereto by any suitable means, the function of which is to positively conduct material from the inner end of the extension conveyer cylinder 13, thus preventing such material from passing between the same and the intermediate driving tubular casing. Disposed adjacent the forward end of the shaft 30 is an oil cup 35, supplying oil or the like to the tubular bearing 29.

Rotatably mounted upon the forward end of the shaft 30 is an operating crank 36, provided with an inwardly extending pin 37, which is disposed for operation within an annular groove 38, whereby the crank 36 is free to turn upon the shaft but cannot move longitudinally thereof. The hub or inner portion of the crank is provided with teeth 39, forming one element of a clutch mechanism, the same being engaged by teeth 40 formed upon a head 41, the second named teeth forming the co-acting element of the clutch mechanism. The head 41 is keyed to the shaft 30, as shown at 42. A spring 43 .tends to move the head forwardly. The head 41 is manually moved by a forked shifting lever 44, the same being held in a desired position by any suitable means.

Formed upon the conveyer cylinder 12 is an upstanding shell 45, the same being preferably formed in two sections, 46 and 47. Rotatably mounted within the upstanding shell 45 is a feed valve wheel 48, provided with pockets 49, as shown. This feed valve is rigidly mounted upon a shaft 50, which is journaled through bearings 51, the longitudinal movement of the shaft being prevent- I and an oppositely wall 59. The end wall 58 'is preferably formed integral with the side walls 57 while the opposite end wall 59 is formed separate. The opposite end walls 58 and 59 have lower end portions 60, which are curved to correspond to the curvature of the valve wheel 49 and is disposed adjacent the same. The body portion of the leveling casing 56 is vertically adjustable within the hopper 45 and is clamped in a desired position by a clamping bolt 56 or the like. The swinging end wall 59 is disposed between the side walls 57 and is provided at its upper end with inwardly extending ears 60 which are apertured for receiving a rod 60, passing through the side walls 57. It is thus seen that the end wall 59 is pivoted at its upper end so that the lower curved portion 60 thereof may be swung outwardly in the direction of rotation of the valve wheel 48, such lower end portion 60 normally serving to level off the contents of each pocket 49 of the valve wheel 48. The swinging move ment of the end wall 59 in one direction is opposed by a suitably stiff coil spring 59 the inner end of which receives a pin or trunnion 60 the outer end of this spring fitting within a socket 61. The socket 61 is swiveled to the end of a bolt 62, which has screwthreaded engagement with a bracket 63, which is detachably connected with the plate 54. The numeral 64 designates a clamping or locking nut, engaging the screw-threaded portion of the adjusting bolt 62, to hold the same against accidental rotation. The outer end-of the bolt 62 is formed square inficross-section to receive thereon a suitable tool whereby the same may be rotated. It is thus seen that means are provided whereby the end wall 59 will normally be held adjacent the valve wheel 48, the same being capable of being moved away from the same, upon the passage of a stone or other solid article therebetween, thus preventing the valve wheel being choked or the different parts of the apparatus being broken. The numeral. 64

designates an auxiliary hopper for received by sleeves 52, rigidly attached thereto." ing air or any other desired material.

The bearing sleeves 51 are held against rattling movement by springs 51*, compressed by bolts 52*. It is obvious that each of the pockets of the valve 48 will discharge its contents into the forward end of the conveyer cylinder 12, through an opening 53. The upper end of the upstanding shell 45 is closed by a horizontal plate 54, upon which is formed a hopper 55. Disposed within the hopper 55 is a leveling casing 56, through whichthe material passes when being fed to the valve. This leveling casing comprises a body portion formed of'two side walls 57 and a stationary end wall 58 i l l l i i g i i i l Rigidly mounted upon the forward end a ratchet wheel 65, the same being engaged by a pawl 66, which is pivotally connected to one arm by a bellcrank lever 67, such bell-crank lever being pivotally connected with the shaft The lower arm of the bell-crank lever passes within the forked end 68 of a pitman 69, and is pivotally connected therewith by means of a bolt 7 O. The lower end of the pitman 69 is pivotally connected with a bolt 71, which is adjustably mounted within a longitudinal slot 72 formed through the crank 36, the pin of the shaft 50 is i 71 carrying a clamping nut 73, whereby the arranged pivoted end v being in its forward position, the shaft 30 will rotate the crank 36, whereby the valve wheel 48 will be given a step by step rotary movement. The material which is fed into the hopper passes into the pockets 49 as they are successively moved into the proper positions, such material being scraped or leveled off by the casing 56. Upon further rotation of the valve 48 the contents of each pocket is fed into the forward end of the conveyer cylinder 12, and discharged into the grinding tube 4 by the spiral conveyer.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a neck to be connected with a rotatable grinding tube, of an inter mediate driving tubular casing extending into the neck and locked thereto for rotation therewith, a conveyer cylinder, an' extension conveyer cylinder disposed adjacent one end of the conveyer cylinder and arranged in end to end relation thereto and extending into the intermediate driving tubular casing, a spiral conveyer extending longitudinally through the conveyer cylinders,- means rigidly connecting the spiral conveyer with one end of the intermediate driving tubular casing, a spanning ring surrounding the adjacent ends of the conveyer and extension conveyer cylinders, a holding ring provided with an annular recess, yielding means disposed between the spanning ring and the holding ring, and a packing ring operating within the annular recess and connected with the intermediate driving tubular cas ing for rotation therewith.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a neck to be connected with a rotatable grinding tube, of an intermediate driving tubular casing extending into the neck and locked thereto for rotation therewith, a relatively stationary conveyer cylinder extending into the intermediate driving tubular casing, a spiral conveyer including a shaft extending longitudinally within the conveyer cylinder, means rigidlyconnecting the shaft with the inner end of the intermediate driving tubularcas ing, and spiral-conveyer blades carried by the inner nd of the intermediate driving tubular casing to conduct the material from proximity to the inner end of the conveyer cylinder.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a relatively stationary casing, of a rotatable valve wheel mounted therein, a conduit leveling casing longitudinally adjustably mounted in the stationary casing and having one side thereof pivoted to swing in the direction of the rotation of the valve wheel, and yielding means to oppose the movement of the pivoted side.

' 4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a relatively stationary casing, of a rotatable valve wheel mounted therein, a conduit leveling casing longitudinally adjustably mounted within the relatively stationary casing and having one side thereof pivoted to swing in the direction of the rotation of the valve wheel, means to lock the conduit leveling casing in adjustment at different longitudinal positions, a spring to yieldingly oppose the movement of the pivoted side in one direction, and adjustable means to regulate the tension of the spring.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR ERNEST SPARROW.

Witnesses WALTER J. L. Fono, CHAS. VVATsoN. 

